The Blues team that can overcome worrying form and fitness as Game 1 looms
Here is my NSW Origin team for Game 1. With the series kicking off in neutral Adelaide before moving to not-so-neutral Brisbane, make no…
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Here is my NSW Origin team for Game 1. With the series kicking off in neutral Adelaide before moving to not-so-neutral Brisbane, make no…
Anzac Day is sacred, making money out of it is not.
The NRL is “getting tough” on head knocks and concussions by ensuring the victims of high tackles and illegal play are taken out of the game.
'Attacking players falling into high tackles'. 'Head clashes'. 'It was an accident'. 'Collisions happen'. We’ve heard plenty of this over the past couple of…
State of Origin has been run and won for another year. Queensland has pulled off another famous underdog victory over a more fancied New…
I remember what late July used to feel like. We’ve come through the Origin period okay. We’ve dropped a game or two that we…
It’s Bill Harrigan’s fault the NRL is in the mess that it is. Not really, but hear me out... Harrigan is probably rugby league’s…
Following on from Parts 1, 2 and 3 here's some more NRL identities with a point to prove. South Sydney Rabbitohs It seems odd…
Following Part 1, let's check out a few more men under the pump in the 2020 NRL season. Broncos Within 18 months of making…
Following on from Parts 1 and 2, here's some more NRL identities with a point to prove. Knights Whether it’s playing footy, hitting a…
Professional sport is a high-pressure environment. Every year, every player and coach is under the gun to perform their best. But every year the…
Season 2019 is done and dusted so it’s time to look at my NRL team of the year. Fullback - James Tedesco (Roosters) The…
Earlier in the week I mapped out an unlikely pathway for the Bulldogs to make the semi-finals. There were a few variables but I…
I was fooling around with the NRL ladder predictor this morning and stumbled across a possible – albeit unlikely (ok extremely unlikely) way the…
You could argue that facing the Sharks, Panthers and Raiders is a pretty tough start to the season for the Knights. But look closer.…
As we near Round 1 of season 2019 it’s timely to have a look at the job security of the people with their necks…
Before the start of every NRL season there are those players and coaches for whom the spotlight shines a little brighter, the bar is…
As the curtain raiser to the NRL grand final, the winners of the Queensland Cup will take on the NSW Cup champions. In NSW…
In some ways the NRL painted themselves in a corner with the shoulder charge, its interpretation and the associated penalties. The Billy Slater case…
The grand final of the NSW Intrust Super Premiership was held at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon between the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and the…
So did the Bulldo… oh, that’s right 😢
Finals Week 1 Teams: Several stars racing the clock to be fit for playoffs, Kris crossed out with lengthy spear tackle ban
I gave up predicting the Storm’s demise a long time ago because of the egg meet face scenario
I’ll believe it when I see it
Round 27 Talking Points: And then there were eight - the key factors that will make or break finals hopes
With Cleary, Luai, Yeo and Edwards, Penrith probably don’t need another focal point for their attack
I thought only Kenny and no Api might be a liability for the Panthers but Kenny has impressed me this year. In some ways he might be the player the Panthers have missed most through this period of restings. I would never have thought 12 months ago I’d be saying that
Having someone who will make all his tackles and get he ball to the main men when they need it might be enough
Can Bazball show the rest of the NRL finalists how to beat the Panthers?
Sharks haven’t played the last game of the last round since 2013…
ANALYSIS: Cronulla kick clear to seal home final after horror Kris tackle spears Raiders' chances
Aaah, I see. Sorry, it wasn’t clear to me that’s what you meant
ANALYSIS: Cronulla kick clear to seal home final after horror Kris tackle spears Raiders' chances
Why is it irrelevant when the draw is done?
ANALYSIS: Cronulla kick clear to seal home final after horror Kris tackle spears Raiders' chances
Sorry mate – I don’t know what you mean by “share around the last game of the round, both on Sunday”
ANALYSIS: Cronulla kick clear to seal home final after horror Kris tackle spears Raiders' chances
You know the draw was released in November 2022? How does the NRL predict which games to schedule on Sunday in the last round, based on who MIGHT be playing in the first week of semis?
ANALYSIS: Cronulla kick clear to seal home final after horror Kris tackle spears Raiders' chances
I saw Luke in a few NSW Cup games last year including the grand final and thought he would be a revelation in first grade this season
But his running game which was destroying reggies teams is covered more easily at NRL level and his weaknesses – defence and dummy half service – exposed more
He really has a terrible pass. He’s also not attuned to the team around him. Kenny has a limited running game but his service is good and he gets the ball to Cleary when he wants it
I think Sommerton is probably ahead of Luke
Can Bazball show the rest of the NRL finalists how to beat the Panthers?
Panthers definitely slightly vulnerable to a high offload, early shift game. Probably most teams are these days given how little it’s done
Bazball is now England’s primary style of play. NRL teams will have to forego everything they’ve trained and drilled for over the past 10 months to adopt a new style of play at the business end of the season – not without risk itself. Interesting that the two sides to have tried it (and only one successfully) were both out of contention with nothing to play for. Much easier to transfer pressure when you’re not under any
While cricket is technically a team sport, it’s really thousands of one on one contests without interaction with team mates. Much easier to change the whole by changing the parts
Having said that I don’t really see how Panthers opponents have a choice. They grind, they die
Can Bazball show the rest of the NRL finalists how to beat the Panthers?
I don’t disagree that it deserves more but unless he’s got priors five weeks reduced to four with an early guilty plea is the most he can get for a grade 3 dangerous throw. Grade 3 is the highest grading
The only way he could get more is if the MRC sends it straight to the judiciary without charge…
ANALYSIS: Cronulla kick clear to seal home final after horror Kris tackle spears Raiders' chances
Sharks have a six day turnaround… they play next Saturday. even so, five day turnarounds are only significant when there’s travel involved… and the Sharks will be at home again
I don’t think the NRL really knew who would be in the mix for 5th and 8th when they put the draw together a year ago. If the Sharks go straight out, it won’t be because of the draw…
ANALYSIS: Cronulla kick clear to seal home final after horror Kris tackle spears Raiders' chances
Grade 3 dangerous throw is 5 weeks (4 with the early plea) for the first offence. Not sure if Kris is a cleanskin or not. Suspensions go to 6(5) for second offence and 7 (6) for the third
Cleary’s was ruled as a grade 3, so I can’t see Kris getting any less. Not intentional but that’s as bad as a lifting tackle can get
Pretty clunky game from both teams. A lot of mistakes for a Sunday arvo game. Both teams need to improve to win next week. Especially the Raiders
ANALYSIS: Cronulla kick clear to seal home final after horror Kris tackle spears Raiders' chances
To be honest SST and alike Thompson are probably the best of the front rowers available atm though
They certainly wouldn’t want SST out there for more than 40 minutes
Bulldogs need more than a few good men but the truth is club's had years to get a handle on mess they created
From this morning’s SMH:
“The Bulldogs have established a rule about punctuality under Ciraldo. It’s simple: if you are late, ring or text the coach or the footy manager. If you don’t have a good reason, turn around and go home.
There had been a couple of punctuality issues earlier in the season and when the player in question arrived late for an off-site wrestling session, it was felt this was the time to take a stand.
Trainer Travis Touma initially wanted to send the player home. He can’t be blamed for what took place. He consulted two senior players, who felt that course of action was unfair and that he should have to complete the gruelling wrestling session like everyone else. So it was decided the player should take part in the session, then complete an extra penalty afterwards.
If a player is late for a running session, the penalty is usually extra runs. If it’s a gym session, the penalty might be extra gym work. This was a wrestling session. So the player was asked to complete extra wrestling. To the best of my knowledge, it lasted for just over four minutes. One by one, there were 24 players, who had very quick wrestles, on their knees, with the player. Each individual wrestle lasted between five and 10 seconds. The player was spent after the session. It’s exhausting work. It’s supposed to be. Afterwards, he was sitting against a wall near the wrestle mats, smiling because he had completed the task.
He wasn’t broken, bruised or bleeding. He kept training with the side for the rest of the week and did not miss a session. His mental health issues, which were not known then, were triggered by external reaction to his punishment.”
Bulldogs need more than a few good men but the truth is club's had years to get a handle on mess they created
I don’t think he’s that good. Can’t play more than 10 minutes in a spell. Also, apparently one of the guys that doesn’t like hard training. I guess I probably should have said big and good…
Bulldogs need more than a few good men but the truth is club's had years to get a handle on mess they created
You could make a convincing argument that was Walkers best game in first grade, not just best defensive game
The Roosters could make things difficult for teams in the semis…
'His best defensive performance in the NRL': How Robbo's tough love led to Sam Walker's tackle perfect night
It is what it is
It’s called the minor premiership for a reason
How many minor premierships would you give up for just one premiership? 10? 50? 1,000?
It doesn’t matter what you do with prize money or trophies you can’t artificially make it more important
It’s ok to be what it is… a nice to have and recognition of a successful season
Lack of care factor over NRL minor premiership is embarrassing but almost impossible to solve perennial problem
Hahaha… beat Dragons, Broncos, Raiders and Manly – all the gun teams of the era – in successive weeks
The asterisk should be to signify how awesome it was… greatest month of footy of all time
Bulldogs need more than a few good men but the truth is club's had years to get a handle on mess they created
It was definitely interesting and definitely different
'I’m p--sed off that people aren’t doing their jobs properly': Ricky Stuart gives refs both barrels in epic press conference spray
“When you analyse a team, you wipe away the good and bad and look at what they actually do,” he said. “What do you need to prepare for?
Great line from Robinson…
NRL Tactical Preview: Where the Roosters and Rabbitohs match will be won and lost
I think once it’s a penalty in that situation, the ref has to use the bin…
ANALYSIS: Broncos minor premiership stalls as Storm streak hits 14 in a row - with rookie Fa'alogo stealing the show
😂 well, if that’s your goal, missing accomplished 😂
'I’m p--sed off that people aren’t doing their jobs properly': Ricky Stuart gives refs both barrels in epic press conference spray
Yeah, I thought he was the worst of the worst first couple of times I heard him, but he’s winning me over
He’s got a voice that would put Valium to sleep and he’s not a wordsmith, but he’s pretty astute..
Bulldogs need more than a few good men but the truth is club's had years to get a handle on mess they created
Yeah agreed. I hope that’s the grand final. As things stand, it’s the best possible match up
It’ll be a fizzer if one of them lose this weekend and they meet in the qualifier
Can Bazball show the rest of the NRL finalists how to beat the Panthers?